Lack Of Privilege Analysis

As I read the article, I didn’t feel myself getting extremely defensive at a majority of the parts as I hoped to read the article with an open mind and accept the constructive criticism. However, there was one part of the article where I didn’t grasp initially, it was when Hall and Fields mentioned, “Black persons feel pressure to explain racism, or to teach white persons about it; but that is not their responsibility” (2012, p. 165). I thought initially, shouldn’t the people who are experiencing racism be the ones to explain it? But I realized after that it’s the responsibility of those in power to seek out the knowledge of those who are willing to provide it and educate themselves. By realizing this and examining my privilege throughout this
My privilege is why I never think about being possibly mistreated by my provider, I do not consider avoiding receiving treatment, and I do not question if my race will affect the way people view me in every interaction I may encounter. I live life thinking I am a person, not a white person, whereas minorities always live representing their race. Furthermore, due to this privilege and lack of understanding of minorities, my patients can suffer too. A form of lack of privilege that could harm my patient is by preventing them from receiving a higher end drug as the provider assumes they can’t afford it, as mentioned in “Continuing the conversation in nursing on race and racism” (2012, p.166). This is a minor gesture that could result in a minority not receiving the best health care they could receive. Or as the article later mentions, black communities have their hospitals segregated and they are inferior compared to hospitals in white neighborhoods (2012, p.167). This is an example of systemic racism that causes the black community to suffer. The combination of microagressions and systemic racism leaves minorities with no trust in the health care